US and Russia meet for talks in Geneva as fears of Ukraine invasion continue to grow
ABCTop United States and Russian diplomats have made no major breakthrough in Geneva but they have agreed to keep talking to try to resolve a heated stand-off over Ukraine that has stoked fears of a military conflict. Key points: US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the two countries were now on a "clearer path to understanding" Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the talks "constructive and useful" The US has agreed to provide written responses to Russian demands on Ukraine and NATO next week Armed with seemingly intractable and diametrically opposed demands, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Geneva at what Mr Blinken said was a "critical moment". Mr Lavrov, meanwhile, called the talks "constructive and useful" and said the US agreed to provide written responses to Russian demands on Ukraine and NATO next week. Mr Blinken said the US would be open to a meeting between Mr Putin and US President Joe Biden if it would be "useful and productive". He said the US and its allies were committed to diplomacy, but also to a "united, swift and severe response" if that proved impossible and Russia decided to pursue aggression against Ukraine.